It has been some time since our last newsletter so let me bring you up to date on the Talking Book & Braille Center’s (TBBC) activities. Our Fall Festival in October at the Grounds For Sculpture was a most successful outing. I enjoyed meeting the TBBC members and their families who attended. We at TBBC would like to thank the Grounds For Sculpture for once again partnering with us to bring you this special event.

As TBBC continues to work to enhance the reading and everyday experiences of our members, we would like to hear from you about how we are doing and how we can improve our services to you. Inside this newsletter you will find TBBC’s 2018 Reader Survey. Please take a few minutes to give us your thoughts. We value your opinion.

Finally, I would like to say “Thank You” to Mary Kearns-Kaplan, TBBC’s Adult Outreach Services Coordinator. Mary retired from TBBC in February. For many years, Mary led our outreach efforts across the state. Mary developed the program that allowed public libraries to help you receive audiobooks. Her work with other state and federal agencies as well as local groups is one of the reasons TBBC is so successful. Mary has been an excellent colleague and she will be missed by all.

Thank you,

Mary L. Chute

New Jersey State Librarian

TAKE A LEAP INTO LEARNING HOW TO USE AN iPAD!

Are you 55 or older with a change of vision? You can receive FREE training on computers and iPads that magnify and speak. Thanks to the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI), assistive technology learning centers have been created at 9 public libraries throughout New Jersey. Here are just a few examples of what you can learn on the iPad:

Explore the exceptional Magnifier! Read any printed material easily, such as prescriptions, menus, business cards, etc.

Set up the extraordinary Zoom feature to enlarge everything on your iPad.

Try VoiceOver, text-to-speech software that reads the iPad to you.

These are just a few examples of how the iPad has been designed to assist those with vision loss and blindness. If you have your own iPad or iPhone, bring it with you to class. The training is FREE! To register, call Advancing Opportunities at 888-322-1918, extension 501.

SAVE THE DATE

Come out and Tee up for Talking Books on Monday June 11th for the Seventh Annual TBBC Golf Classic. Help spread the word. If you know anyone interested in golfing, sponsoring, volunteering or becoming a part of the golf committee, contact Linda Cerce in the Development Office at 800-792-8322 extension 835.

Dear TBBC Member,

TBBC values your opinion. Please take a few minutes of your time to complete the following survey. Your responses are confidential and anonymous.

To submit this survey, please remove this section from the newsletter and mail to: New Jersey State Library, Talking Book & Braille Center, P.O. Box 501, Trenton, NJ 08625-0501. Instead of mailing the survey to TBBC, you may fill out the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2018tbbcreadersurvey

TBBC 2018 Reader Survey

TBBC services improve the quality of my life.
Yes ☐ No ☐

Have you contacted TBBC in the past year?
Yes ☐ No ☐

If yes, what method did you use? Check all that apply.
Phone call ☐;
Email ☐;
Written correspondence ☐;
Left phone message ☐;
In-person visit ☐.

Were you satisfied with your interactions with TBBC?
Yes ☐ No ☐

How often do you contact TBBC?
Daily ☐; Weekly ☐; Monthly ☐; Other ☐

Do you use the bookshelf function on your Digital Talking Book Player?
Yes ☐ No ☐

Do you use the Internet?
Yes ☐ No ☐

If yes, how do you use the Internet?
At home ☐;
At the library ☐;
At work ☐;
At school ☐;
Other ☐.

Do you use BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download)?
Yes ☐ No ☐

If yes, how do you use BARD?
NLS player ☐;
Commercial player ☐;
App and BARD mobile ☐.

Do you use the local public library?
Yes ☐ No ☐

If yes, what services do you use at the local public library?
Attend programs ☐;
Borrow materials ☐;
Get government forms ☐;
Use the computers ☐;
Other ☐.

Where else do you get books? Check all that apply.
Audible.com ☐;
Bookshare ☐;
Learning Ally ☐;
Book stores ☐;
Public library audiobooks ☐;
Other ☐.

The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes financial assistance and acts as an advocacy group to the New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center. The Friends support and promote the services and programs of TBBC. They meet twice a year on the first Saturday in June and December at the Joseph Kohn Training Center in New Brunswick, NJ.

For additional information and a membership application, visit the Friends’ website or call 609-888-5459. The Friends’ email address is Friendsnjlbh@yahoo.com and their mailing address is:

The Friends of the NJLBH
P.O. Box 434
Woodbridge, NJ 07095-0434

CONTACT INFORMATION: THE NEW JERSEY STATE LIBRARY TALKING BOOK & BRAILLE CENTER